Just a few clarification questions on pitching screen rules (esp tournament rules). I would appreciaeet answers regarding SSUSA, ISA and FL Half Century

1) Is it legal for a pitcher to throw the pitch over the screen? Pitch would be under 12 ft and hit the mat.

2) Should the screen cover at least 1/2 the rubber to the glove side? (If not it seems a savvy pitcher could use the screen as a very large fielder)

3) Can the screen be knocked over once the ball is hit to keep it from interfering with a throw home?

4) Am I incorrect in thinking I have seen that senior association rules vary in how far back from the physical pitching rubber a pitcher can stand. I believe I have seen some at 6ft and others as far as 10 ft back.

To add to the question : Is it possible to pitch under six feet and still get the ball to the plate without "excessive speed"? ... (I think the ASA softball book refers tot he pitch as to being delivered at "moderate speed"?)

We have tried to get a pitch to hit the "strike mat" while throwing under six feet and it doesn't seem to get there unless thrown with noticeable speed.

(Im sure an engineer, physicist or mathematician among us can figure out the scientific answer.)

Nancy , no I guessed that there was another background issue. You have always been very respectful to even the silliest questions on here.

BTW, the question was the runner intentionally running into the ball before the SS picks it up, thereby deflecting it so the SS cannot turn a double play.

I know that if the runner OBVIOUSLY intentionally runs into the ball,before the SS can field it at all, what the call would be. The question was, IF the runner was able to 'sell it" and not make it look intentional it would seem to be a smart base running play, essentially giving himself up and saving a double play.

I guess I should have been more specific in saying WE know the answer if it is obviously intentional. WE know how to read, read numerous rule books and also know how to respond to questions in a non snarky manner.

The response "This would be an umpire judgement call to whether it was intentional or not." confirms what we discussed, the decision is on the umpire as to whether it was intentional.

The problem is it is a play that is easy to make look unintentional (even if intentional).

Since it is almost an automatic double play in the original described situation, the risk of putting onus on the umpire might make sense.

The discussion about running to the commitment line, stopping and then stepping over as the fielder tags you has been discussed on numerous occasions here. The answer is the player is safe if he is touched after stepping over the commitment line.

How, from a defenses standpoint, should this play be made?

Here is another question : 1) runner runs to the commitment line ans stops before crossing 2) Third baseman comes up to him BUT refuses to reach out to touch him (avoiding the play from above). ... the runner and third baseman stand there, neither makes any more movement. After a short period of time should the umpire call time and put the runner back on third base? or does this remain a standoff until both the runner and fielder fall over from exhaustion?

Go do this test and tell me how well you would field a ball coming 100mph from 50 ft away, with 0.33 seconds to get your glove up:

https://www.humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime

If you reduce the exit velocity to say 70mph off the bat .... you now get 0.487 seconds of reaction time at 50 feet … how many pass that test? If you can't you are putting yourself, your family, other players and your friends at risk .... FOR WHAT???

I commend the people who came up with buying the lacrosse helmets for our pitchers. Maybe its time to put egos aside and actually use them? (For those that say they have a screen, how many of pitchers actually move behind the safety of the screen?)

“May be a view from some one who has been hit in the head would be educational. ASA, 52/300, back peddle 3-5 ft, hold glove right at my neck/ chin area. They said the sound of ball hitting my Worth helmet was almost at the same time of the sound coming off the bat. I saw the ball 3 ft from me - would of hit me in left eye. Ball hit face mask and rocked my head back, ball landed in right field. It sounds like a gun going off in your helmet. Result? Worth helmet did it's job. Nothing bent or cracked. I've used a worth helmet since they first came out.”

(about the individual who died)

“Someone who knows him said he usually wears a helmet but for some reason he went out that inning without it. My daughter took pictures of the proposal at the softball field if irc. She said he is a pretty good player. This wasn't some rec guy stepping three feet towards the plate to pitch. One of the pictures I saw of him he was holding a trophy shaped like a glove. I try to tell the guys I play with and against locally all the time, it only takes one time. Even if you don't die, having facial reconstructive surgery is life changing.”

“That is my friend that died. I was/currently playing ball with him and have been for the last almost 15yrs. A terrible accident. He got married, went on his honeymoon, came back mid that week and played Saturday when he got hit. They air lifted him to Jax due to the severity of the injury where 2 weeks later he passed. His wife Taylor will have been married , gone a honeymoon and widowed in less than 30days. A true tragedy!!! May Greg R.I.P. and Taylor find the peace that she needs to cope with all of this. God Bless!

All I can say, that if this tragedy keeps someone else from getting injured or causes someone else to lose their life, is it worth it. As I sit here on Christmas, knowing he will not be, his WIDOW beside herself kind of gets me in the feels. His background was he played ball all his life, played college ball (starter) and all. Played at a high level with exceptional hands AND if this could happen to him, it could happen to anyone. The game is just that A GAME..... I'm not trying to alter someones life by playing it. It has altered many lives as it is. Many associations are making adjustments (offering a screen or a helmet) to pitchers which in my opinion is great.

That wasn’t the case here. Greg was a very experienced player. Great glove, quick hands, played SS, middle infielder and pitcher. In my 12 years of playing tournaments I’m pretty sure I saw him at every one and he played in multiple leagues as well. As Hacker stated earlier Greg pitched the ball, dropped back to cover the hole and the ball deflected off his glove. It’s a freak accident and a tragedy and my prayers go out to his wife and family. “

From other pitchers:

“I know if a ball hits my mask I'm still going to get hurt, but not as bad as without the mask. The fact my temple area is still exposed concerns me because most of us do have a tendency to turn our heads. I caught a line drive right by my right cheek bone & ear this fall & I saw the ball go into my glove. The ball was headed right at my face until it curved slightly. I told my teammates I saw it all the way to my glove only because I didn't have time to close my eyes. Would have been a bad deal had a ball like that been hit at me in July. I was sick most of the month and my reaction times were often extremely slow, but I didn't always realize it. 3rd base is dangerous enough, but at least I am/should be in a ready position, unlike the pitcher who's also 15-20' closer to home. A few pitchers here wear helmets or masks, but not nearly enough.”

“I've yet to take one off the helmet and Lord willing, it'll never happen. Still, I refuse to take the mound without a mask or chest guard. Had a gentleman take a line drive to the chest with a 52 in our league a few years back. He yelled "I'm ok, I'm ok" then collapsed to his death. Not sure if chest protection would have saved him or not.”

“I saw a lacrosse helmet save a pitcher's life a few years ago. Line drive hit the front of the helmet right between the guy's eyes. It was hard enough to crack the helmet and still give the pitcher a concussion. This was a .44 400 ball too. I'm convinced the helmet saved him.”

A runner must make every effort to avoid collisions.
If in the umpire's judgment the runner misses a base to avoid a collision, they may be declared safe.
If in the umpire's judgment the runner fails to avoid a collision, they may be declared out.

If the runner (even though a smart play in baseball) intentionally runs into another player that certainly is NOT avoiding a collision. It is intentionally CAUSING a collision

to add a wrinkle (happened today) .... runner in rundown between second and third ... third baseman goes towards runner and when about 3 feet away from him, tosses ball to shortstop who is between the runner and second base(silly play). .... as the third baseball tosses the ball, the runner stops, turns and runs into him ..... (the third baseman had no time to get out of way).

“There is another class of coloured people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs."

I was reading anther website and the following came up in discussion. Is this true that the 1.21 BPF limit applies only when a bat is new and it can exceed that as the bat "breaks-in"?

The other questions are interesting as well:

"However, current SSUSA testing only requires the bat to pass BPF = 1.21 straight out of the wrapper with no break-in.

It's not entirely clear which bat actually meets or exceeds BPF=1.21 as it becomes "game ready" ....?
What is the potential max BPF of broken-in bat?
What is potential durability of bat once it reaches its peak BPF?
Which bat has largest sweet spot once broken in?"

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